Tuesday, April 28, 2009

I don’t know why I’m surprised anymore, but hateful comments like this catch me off guard.

Many of you know that we’ve been closely following the Hate Crimes Legislation (HR 1913) that’s swiftly moving through Congress. During discussion today in the Rules Committee, Congresswoman Virginia Fox, citing reasons why she objects to expanding hate crimes language to include “sexual orientation” and “gender identity,” said these words this afternoon:

"Why is it worse to go after someone who's gay than going after someone who's a prostitute?"

"Should there be an amendment to this to say that prostitutes are a protected class?"

You read it right. A sitting US Congresswoman has officially declared a comparison of gays and lesbians to an act that is considered a crime in 99% of the country.

I just got off the phone with someone from her office, expressing my deep disappointment that an elected official to the US Congress would make such remarks. Please take a few minutes and call Foxx’s office as soon as possible to let her know how you feel. Please be civil.